The Scottish Parliament has become too predictable and lacks spontaneity and drama, former first minister Lord McConnell has said.

He called for a rethink on scrutiny of ministers, arguing that they are not pressurised enough, with too many scripted questions "draining the level of interest" out of Holyrood.

Lord McConnell was giving evidence to the Commission on Parliamentary Reform, alongside fellow former first minister Henry McLeish.

The commission, chaired by former electoral commissioner John McCormick, was set up by Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh.

It is aimed at giving Holyrood an ''MoT'' and will look at issues including the processing of legislation and the committee system.

Lord McConnell dismissed the idea of increasing the number of MSPs, saying he is "strongly against having more members".

Instead, he suggested more flexibility is required.

"The chamber has become too predictable, too partisan and too structured," he said.

More spontaneous and topical questions for ministers, rather than questions that are "scripted weeks in advance", and "more topical statements in a more flexible timetable" where ministers can be questioned on "the big issues of the day" could be introduced, he said.

"Oral questions should be about holding ministers accountable, and the best way to do that is more spontaneity and topicality," he said.

"From my very first experience as a minister, from the first year, I felt there was something not right about it, and I could feel the level of interest draining out of the Parliament as a result.

"I think it has just got worse and worse over the years."

He suggested Holyrood could look to the House of Lords - where he now sits - for inspiration.

Its weekly question time allows members to grill ministers on a range of questions within their portfolio.

"I know the ministers feel pressure," he said.

"I think a bit more of that in Scotland would be healthy."

Lord McConnell also suggested Holyrood could sit into the evening for some votes and important debates.

"Not just for time but also for drama - a parliament needs to have a bit of drama as well," he added.

During his evidence session, Mr McLeish said the Parliament is "not effectively scrutinising" the Government and other relevant institutions, and argued committees are not performing their "select committee function" - overseeing the work of Government departments - as well as they could be.

He said: "It (Holyrood) needs a bigger identity in Scotland because we want to strengthen our democracy, and democracy is at risk at the present time."